Falcon West Academy
Designed with the motivated rugby athlete in mind, bringing their skills from the pitch into their next career.
12 weeks with unlimited upside
Our Academy is designed to present the motivated rugby athlete the appealing opportunities in the insurance field. Designed for the in-season athlete, the program spans 12 weeks with a time commitment of 6 hours per week. This is a paid internship program with the ability to be fully remote, with flexibility around training and game schedules.
Upcoming 2026 Academy Dates
- March 2 – May 22
- June 1 – August 21
- August 31 – November 20
Real experience, not making copies
Academy participants are taught intentionally, and provided with mentorship and coaching throughout the program. There will also be frequent opportunities to attend meetings with prospects, clients, and carrier partners.
Here’s a sample of subjects covered:
• Policy and coverage types
• Creating SOVs for CRE submissions
• Due diligence and policy review methods
• Energy sector risks and strategies
• MSA indemnity and fundamentals
• Building a prospect list
• Networking and marketing skills
The Academy requires strong time management skills and a combination of self-study and meetings with others on the Falcon West team. Frequent invitations to client meetings provide real-time understanding and use of learned skills.
"Being a part of FalconWest Academy was a great learning experience where I received world-class mentorship and instruction from a team of highly-motivated insurance brokers."
Dustin Braun, Academy 1
"The internship opportunity with Falcon West through the MLRPA has been great! Growing my knowledge and experience in the industry with a successful insurance organization with fantastic people, will help me to be prepared for what comes after rugby."
Bart Vermeulen, Group 2
What sets you apart
You're a rugby athlete. You already know what it means to work when no one’s watching. But success off the field depends on more than grit alone. During this internship, we’ll focus on four core traits that define high performers in our business. These are also how we evaluate your progress throughout the program.
Let's start with a phone or video call
We limit each group to 4 individuals to ensure a great experience for everyone involved. Everything starts with a phone or video call, and participants must be authorized to work in the United States.
Email Peter Brecht to introduce yourself, provide a copy of your resume or CV, and connect on LinkedIn.
What are you working toward?
My favorite question to ask applicants is, "What are you doing today to prepare yourself for this role tomorrow?"
Surprisingly, not many can answer that question openly, because they aren't thinking through the role completely.
In a similar manner, you need to know your personal why for joining this Academy; however, because this isn't a job interview, here are a few things you might consider while answering that question:
- Understand the insurance industry
- Improve your résumé and/or Curriculum Vitae
- Learn how a business works
- For high performers, earn a letter of recommendation
- Join a growing network of alumni
- Future job opportunities
Our Connection With Rugby
Falcon West Insurance Brokers is a property and casualty insurance brokerage that was started in 1980. It is owned by Mike Tanghe, a 25-year insurance veteran and former USD and OMBAC rugby player.
Current producers include Bill “Chief” Leversee (pictured above), a US Eagle from 1988-1996; and former US Eagle Captain Dave Hodges, who in addition to playing professionally in Wales was with the national team from 1996-2004.
We consider ourselves fortunate to have first been introduced to rugby while we were in college, and have incorporated giving back to the game at every opportunity. Our kids have played with Girls Rugby Inc. and the Mustangs youth clubs, we have coached at the youth and high school levels, we have sponsored teams spanning from U8s through the MLR, and our rugby connections comprise many of our friends and clients.
We are excited to partner with the 7s program to help current and retiring players in the next stages of their careers and continue to help grow rugby in the US!